Spike Has Three Mommies

Chapter Ten

“There, there,” Fluttershy whispered into Pound Cake’s ear. “It’s okay. It’s all right…”

Rarity looked around the now-clean kitchen in despair. She felt worse than before. How could she have treated her friends so badly? And in front of the children, too. It was scandalous!

“Hush now, quiet now,” Fluttershy sang softly. As she rocked the little boy to sleep, she looked over at Rarity. There a moment of awkward silence between them. Then Fluttershy winked and added, “It’s time to lay your sleepy head…”

Taking that as a hint, Rarity smiled back and quietly stepped out of the kitchen. She decided that she might as well go looking for Spike. Out of everyone, he deserved the biggest apology.

But where to find him?

As she walked through her living room, Rarity decided to give her gem locator spell a try. She supposed it wouldn’t be much good with people, but Spike was as precious to her as any jewel.

With deep breath, Rarity cleared her mind. Then she removed her designer’s glasses from her pocket and slid them on. She concentrated, imagining Spike like she’d done when she tried to change his diaper. And to bring in her locator spell, she pictured the vague outline of a fire ruby around him, encasing him perfectly.

Blue light flashed through the frames of her glasses. When that light cleared, Rarity saw a red line running across the living room floor. It started at her feet and went up the staircase toward her workshop.

Of course he’d go there. The poor thing needed another clean diaper, and Rarity had designed more than enough for him to use. This brought a smile to her face as she raced upstairs.

The red trail, however, didn’t lead her into her workshop. Instead, it ended inside the room next door—her “inspiration room.” Everything in there was a mess because that was how Rarity wanted it—the better to come up with a completely new ensemble. Scarves, hats, dresses, ribbons, whole swathes of fabric strewn about the room in no discernible pattern.

But that didn’t explain the quietly sniffling pile of socks in the corner.

Rarity pushed her glasses up and sighed. “Spike? Darling, I’m so sorry to intrude. I… I really am sorry about what happened. Can you ever forgive me?”

When the sniffling didn’t stop, Rarity grew nervous. She crept closer to the sock pile and leaned over to get a better glimpse.

Her mouth dropped. “Oh, my. Pumpkin Cake? What are you doing here?”

Instead of a young boy, it was the Cakes’ little girl. She was curled up on the floor, weeping softly. Rarity’s heart sank to see her like this. She carefully extended a pair of magical arms to reach down and cradle the poor child.

“There, there,” she whispered. “Don’t fret, sweetheart. Er… Auntie Rarity’s here.”

She frowned. Those were all the comforting platitudes she could think to give to the child at the moment. It was easier with Sweetie Belle, being sisters and all.

Rarity looked down at Pumpkin Cake, who had begun to quiet down as the magical arms rocked her back and forth. What surprised Rarity was that she hadn’t realized she was rocking the girl to sleep. It just came naturally.

Well, of course, she thought with a small amount of pride. It’s not called the inspiration room for nothing…

With a tender smile, Rarity pulled Pumpkin Cake into her actual arms and held her close. It was so much simpler when the child was half-asleep. She could examine her up close. Her pink shirt and skirt were adorable, if a little lacking in opulence. It occurred to Rarity that she could design something more stylish for the twins. Just because they were young didn’t mean they deserved to be kept from the heights of fashion.

“Wait a minute!” Rarity continued to rock Pumpkin Cake in her arms as she looked around the room. Her gem locator spell had led her here, where she’d found the missing toddler instead of Spike. But why do that unless she was meant to be here?

Her eyes fell on the table, where a pair of unfolded baby diapers were laid out. The pair Twilight had given her to use for inspiration when designing Spike’s diapers. But that design was just a prototype. Now that she’d seen the diapers as they were meant to be used, she could do better.

“Oh, thank you, Pumpkin Cake,” Rarity whispered. She gave the sleeping girl a hug. “I know just how to repay you for this wonderful idea—and Spike, too!”